Expressive writing as a brief intervention for reducing drinking intentions.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• College students frequently engage in heavy drinking.
• Expressive writing is a potential intervention for behavior change.
• Understanding factors influencing drinking intentions is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of expressive writing in reducing college students' drinking behavior.
• To investigate if writing about negative drinking experiences decreases future drinking intentions.
• To explore how current drinking levels and AUDIT scores moderate the intervention's effects.

Main Methods:

• 200 undergraduates were randomly assigned to write about positive, negative, or neutral drinking experiences.
• Participants completed measures of current drinking behavior and intended drinking.
• Analysis examined differences in drinking intentions based on writing condition and AUDIT scores.

Main Results:

• Writing about a negative drinking occasion significantly reduced intended drinks per week and heavy drinking occasions compared to controls.
• Interactions indicated that positive writing increased intentions for heavier drinkers.
• Negative writing showed varied effects: increasing intentions for heavier drinkers but decreasing them for those with higher AUDIT scores.

Conclusions:

• Expressive writing, particularly focusing on negative experiences, shows promise as an intervention to reduce undergraduate drinking.
• The intervention's effectiveness may vary based on individual drinking habits and AUDIT scores.
• Further research and refinement are needed to optimize expressive writing interventions for heavier college drinkers.